In a high scoring home series from March 12-13, UCCS went even against their rivals the Regis Rangers.
Several Mountain Lions gave strong offensive performances, including freshman infielder Paige White’s first inning grand slam in game two and a walk-off from redshirt junior infielder Sawyer Brewster in game four.
The team is now 10-8 after the four-game series.
March 12: Game 1
The Rangers took over immediately in the first inning with three runs. After the first, there were five straight scoreless innings. UCCS almost scored in the bottom of the third after a first and third jam, but nothing phased out and the Mountain Lions stranded both runners.
UCCS scored in the bottom of the sixth after junior shortstop Solana Martinez drove a two out triple down to help UCCS get on third base. Brewster took advantage, assisting Martinez to score with a base hit to take her home.
Regis responded in the top of the seventh inning off a solo home run. UCCS didn’t score another run for the remainder of the game and lost 4-1.
Regis outhit UCCS, 7-4.
March 12: Game 2
In a game that was all offense for the first two innings, Regis scored one run at the top of the first to take the lead.
UCCS followed in the bottom of the first. Early in the inning, they had all three bases occupied when White hit her first grand slam of the season, giving UCCS their first lead of the series, 4-1. UCCS didn’t score again but kept the lead for the remainder of the game.
The Rangers cut the lead in the second with a run-scoring double, making the game 4-2. It wasn’t until the top of the seventh inning that either team would score again, as Regis hit a second home run. UCCS held on to 4-3 for the win.
Five different UCCS players contributed to the teams’ six total hits. Martinez led with two and White tied her career-high with four RBIs due to the first inning grand slam.
March 13: Game 3
Following a Game 2 loss, the Rangers opened with a three-run home run before recording a single out. They scored another run before ending the top of the first out in front.
The Mountain Lions entered the bottom of the inning down by four. They responded with a two-run home run by Brewster, driving sophomore outfield Mia Perez home and cutting the Rangers lead, 4-2. This was Brewster’s second RBI hit of the series.
UCCS continued to escape the hole with a drive in the third inning from redshirt sophomore infielder Morgan Hernandez-Belew that brought redshirt junior outfielder Bryn Horton home.
UCCS kept the Rangers’ offense quiet in the third-to-seventh innings thanks to redshirt junior pitcher Braelyne Crenshaw holding them to no runs for five consecutive innings.
A run in the sixth kept the game alive for the Mountain Lions as it was tied for the next couple innings. Neither team could find any spark from the sixth to eighth innings. But Regis put the game away at the top of the ninth with a two-run home run, crushing the Mountain Lions’ chances of taking a series victory.
March 13: Game 4
The finale ended up being the highest scoring match of the weekend with both teams scoring a combined 15 runs over the course of the game.
Despite being a high-scoring offensive contest, the first two innings were scoreless. It wasn’t until Regis struck first at the top of the third inning with a two-run home run and an RBI double that they finally placed three runs on the board.
A home run by Brewster in the bottom of the third drew the game even at 3-3. Brewster and Martinez ended up getting all the team’s eight RBIs throughout the match.
Regis then responded with four runs in the fourth off several defensive mistakes by the Mountain Lions. Their offense never touched home plate again as UCCS stopped them from scoring the rest of the match.
Though they were down 7-3, UCCS cut the Rangers’ lead by scoring two runs on a sacrifice fly and RBI single in the fourth inning, bringing the game to a 7-5 score at the middle of the fourth inning.
UCCS tied the game in the sixth inning with a hit to center field by Martinez, scoring two on a single. They finally took the lead, and eventually the game, off of a Brewster single that took Hernandez-Belew to the plate, winning the game for the Mountain Lions, 8-7
The Mountain Lions are on the road to Golden to face off against the Colorado School of Mines March 19-20.
